Texas graduation rates top the charts

AUSTIN – Texas tied for the third highest high school graduation rate in the country for all students and ranks number one in graduation rates for Asian and white students, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Education.

“This state-by-state comparison confirms what Texas educators have been saying for a long time. Our public schools are delivering a high quality education and our students are having great success,” said Texas Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams.

This marks the first time all states have used a uniform method for calculating graduation rates.

The USDE data for the Class of 2011 shows Texas:

Number 1 with Asian students with a graduation rate of 95 percent.

Number 1 for white students with a graduation rate of 92 percent.

Number 1 by tying with Montana with a graduation rate of 81 percent for African-American students.

Has the third highest graduation rate for all students, tying with Tennessee, New Hampshire, Indiana, Nebraska and North Dakota with a rate of 86 percent. Iowa, Vermont and Wisconsin exceed Texas by one to two percentage points.

Number 2 for Hispanic students with a graduation rate of 82 percent, behind only Maine.

Number 2 for children with disabilities who graduate at a rate of 77 percent. Only South Dakota had a higher rate.

In a tie for second place with Missouri for multi-racial students who have a graduation rate of 92 percent, with only Delaware students graduating at a higher rate.

In a tie for second place with New Jersey with an American-Indian graduate rate of 87 percent. Only Tennessee has a higher rate.

Number 2 for economically-disadvantaged students who graduate at a rate of 84 percent, behind only South Dakota.

Number 26 for limited English proficient students who have a graduation rate of 58 percent. Those who become proficient in English are removed from the limited English proficient category.

“We think, in part, the state’s school accountability system has helped shine a light on this issue over the past 15 years and focused greater attention on raising the graduation rate” Williams said.

“Of course, there is more work to be done to raise the rates even higher. But let’s give credit where credit is due. Thanks to hard work from teachers, administrators, students and parents, more Texas students are earning a high school diploma than ever before,” he said.